Shootings of officers in line of duty on pace to surpass 2020's 'historic' highs, police group says
6 law enforcement officers shot so far during National Police Week, FOP says
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}A half-dozen law enforcement officers have been shot since Monday – during National Police Week – and at least 106 have been wounded so far in 2021, the National Fraternal Order of Police (FOP) said Thursday.
The number of law enforcement officers wounded in the line of duty this year is already "on pace to surpass last year's historic numbers," the FOP said, adding that of the 106 officers shot year-to-date, 23 have been killed.
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}Meanwhile, 27 of the wounded victims were targeted in 22 ambush-style attacks, the national union’s statistics show.
"The demonization of police has made communities and law enforcement jobs less safe. We are seeing the consequences of such divisive rhetoric with violence targeting police officers on the rise. Our law enforcement officers are increasingly under fire by individuals motivated by nothing more than a desire to kill or injure a cop," said Patrick Yoes, National FOP president, in a statement to Fox News. "Law enforcement officers, who serve their communities and put their lives on the line for fellow citizens, should not be hunted and targeted just because of the uniform that they wear. Law enforcement is a higher calling for those who take the oath to protect and serve. It is these men and women who run toward danger to protect the public when everyone else is running away."
Just Wednesday, a New York City police officer was shot three times in Brooklyn while trying to stop someone who allegedly had a gun and was suspected of being involved in an earlier shooting.
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}NYPD COP SHOT THREE TIMES IN BROOKLYN; SUSPECT IN CUSTODY
The officer was with another cop and a sergeant at the time. New York Police Department officials have said the bulletproof vest saved his life.
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{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}Past FOP statistics show 314 officers were shot in the line of duty in 2020, with 47 being killed by gunfire and 43 being wounded in ambush attacks.